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| Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister and prominent oppositional leader (Image: Profi-Forex News) |
On 4 October 2013 significant changes happened in the case of Yulia
Tymoshenko, Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister accused for her gas deals with Russia
and being currently held in prison.
Many politicians and analysts especially in the Western world including
EU consider this case being politically motivated as Yulia Tymoshenko is a
charismatic and strong oppositional leader and could be a strong rival of the
current President Victor Yanukovich in the upcoming parliamentary elections
expected to be held in 2015.
It’s worth mentioning that the Tymoshenko case is among the main
obstacles on the path of Ukraine to the signing of the Association Agreement
with EU in November 2013 and on the next developing of the relations between
Ukraine and European Union. The imprisonment of Mrs. Tymoshenko along with some
other influential oppositional leaders, like recently released by the President’s
order Yury Lutsenko, ex-Minister of Interior, is considered being a sign of the
selective justice in Ukraine and the politically motivated cases what is
totally unacceptable for the European community. The reforms of the judicial
system are among the key demands of the EU representatives for Ukraine as a
part of the cooperation and preparing for the possible signing of the
Association Agreement.
The talks regarding release of Mrs. Tymoshenko have been held during
more than year, since 2012, when Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox,
representatives of the EU commission responsible for the European integration
of Ukraine, arrived in the country to express the position of the European community
on this case and to discuss the possible ways to resolve this crisis.
In addition to that there have been also recommendations to send
ex-Prime Minister abroad for the medical treatment which is urgently needed and
cannot be provided for Mrs. Tymoshenko in Ukraine. European politicians have
shared the ways and the possible legal solutions of this situation allowing the
imprisoned politician to be sent for the medical treatment to Europe.
As for the judicial side of the question, the majority of the local and
international political analysts and also some politicians and activists are
sure the decision to release Yulia Tymoshenko depends totally on Ukrainian
President Victor Yanukovich, as the judicial mechanisms for this exist. Thus,
Ukrainian oppositional politician Yury Lutsenko, recently released by the
Yanukovich’s decree, stated that Yulia Tymoshenko could be possibly released in
the same way, and only the decision of Victor Yanukovich and his signature are
needed for it to be done. Mr. Lutsenko also thinks that Mrs. Tymoshenko should
be released by the President’s decree soon, because this is in the interest of
the country and the President as well, as the imprisonment of Yulia Tymoshenko
is one of the main obstacles for the European integration of Ukraine.
On 4 October Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has signed a decree
dismissing the first prosecutor general deputy Renat Kuzmin, who was actually
the main accuser of Yulia Tymoshenko in the gas case.
At the same time EU representatives declared about their willingness to
offer Yulia Tymoshenko medical treatment in Europe. Germany stressed that they
are ready to receive Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister for the treatment, and Yulia
Tymoshenko has reportedly accepted this proposal and is ready to go to Europe
for the treatment. European representatives have already started the talks with
Ukrainian authorities regarding the details and conditions of the treatment of
Yulia Tymoshenko.
In addition to that EU official representatives responsible for the
European integration talks with Ukraine have sent the petition about the
release of Yulia Tymoshenko to Ukrainian authorities.
These are significant changes in Ukrainian politics and on the path of
Ukraine to the signing of the Association Agreement with EU and further
cooperation. The chances of Yulia Tymoshenko to be released are high, according
to the experts, and there are also several legal programs and ways of her
release and further rehabilitation.
Yulia Tymoshenko’s lawyer Sergey Vlasenko has stated in his turn that
Mrs. Tymoshenko accepted the proposal of the medical treatment in Germany, but
she will not stay in Europe and will continue to demand her full release and
rehabilitation.
Several political analysts and politicians as well even assure that in
this case Yulia Tymoshenko could even possible participate in the upcoming presidential
elections in 2015 and become a serious oppositional candidate.
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